Apparatus for sinking piles



Allg. l, 1944. E, BIGNELL 2,354,936

APPARATUS FOR SINKING PILES Filed Dec. 15, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 1 5 Y r "In 6 /A Z ATTORNEY aux Aug. 1, 1944.

E. BIGNELL 2,354,936

APPARATUS FOR SINKING PILES Filed nec. 15, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 f 37 INVENTOR /mr' ,y

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 1, 1944 APPARATUS FOR SINKING PILES Edward Big'nell, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to Emma C. Bignell, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 15, 1941, Serial No. 423,028

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for sinking piles in the earth, especially below a bodyof water in such a manner, for example, as to adapt the piles for supporting a foundation for piers, wharves, bridges, dams and the like, in, on or related to such a body of water; the principal objects of the present invention being to provide a convenient, relatively economical and highly efficient pile sinking apparatus.

Other objects of the invention are to provide for applying a pile sinking medium relative to the pile and a portion of the earth into which the pile is being sunkat a point of maximum effectiveness for facilitating sinking of the pile; to provide for maintaining substantially constant effective pressures upon the pile sinking medium; to provide for lubricatingl the pile and washing upwardly particles of earth progressively loosened during sinkingof the pile by the pile sinking` medium; and to provide improved elements and arrangementsthereof in a pile sinking apparatus of thekcharacter and for the purposes specified.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the Preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

lFig, 1 is'a perspective view of a pile to which apparatus embodying the present invention is applied, the same being shown being sunk into the'A earth below a body of water.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the pile and pile sinking apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the pile and pile sinking apparatus, the pile sinking apparatus being shown in partially elevated relation to the pile.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the pile and pile sinking apparatus substantially on the line 44, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a modified form of pile showing my improved pile sinking apparatus applied thereto.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a pilev comprising a body portion having a toe portion 2 at one end thereof and a heel portion 3 at the other end thereof. 'I'he body of the pile at the heel portion thereof is preferably provided with a loop 4 suitably embedded in the pile and arranged for engagement by a hook 5 of a suitable hoisting device (not shown) in such a manner as to support the pile ina body of water, in dry ground, or when it is desired to transport the same from place to place.

In order to provide for sinking the pile into the earth 6 below a body of water 'I, I preferably arrange a manifold 8 about the pile preferably adjacent the lower end and/or toe portion 2 thereof. y

The manifold 8 is preferably made up of sections 9 and I0 of pipe joined at their outer ends by Ls II and at their inner ends by crosses I2 and T's I3.

The crosses I2 are preferably arranged on each of the sides of the rectangular manifold so formed and the crosses I2 are further preferably provided with oppositely disposed outlets I4 and I5. The outlets I4 are each preferably arranged to open downwardly relative to the manifoldand arev provided with downwardly and inwardly directed jet pipes I6 preferably of less inner diameter than the manifold pipe sections 9 and I0. The outlets I5 are preferably directed upwardly and are provided with pipe sections Il that are preferably' of less diameter than the manifold pipe sections 9 and I0. Each of the upwardly directed pipe sections I'I is preferably provided with a reducer I8 having an inwardly directed elbow outlet jet I9 for emitting pressure medium contained in the manifold 8 from the pipe sections I'I.

Projecting outwardly from each of the reducers I8 is a pipe section 20 preferably of less inner diameter than the section II, the upper ends of each of which are provided with reducers 2|, elbow outlet jets 22,that are directed upwardly,

. and upwardly directed pipe sections 23 preferably of less inner diameter than the sections 26. The upper ends of the pipe sections 23 are each preferably provided with a reduced jet nozzle 24 for emitting pressure medium passing from the manifold 8 through the sections I'I, 2II and 23, preferably directed upwardly. 'Ihe jets I9, 22 and 24 are all directed upwardly and against the surface of the pile forming a nlm of waterpassing upwardly covering the entire surface of the pile or structure being sunk.

In order to supply the manifold 8 with pressure medium ultimately to be furnished the downwardly directed jets I6 and/or the upwardly directed jets I9, 22 and 24, the Ts I3 are preferably arranged on two oppositely disposed sides of the manifold, the inlets 25 of such Ts I3 being directed upwardly and being i'ltted with pipe sections 26, preferably of approximately the inner diameter of the manifold pipe sections 9 and I0. The pipe sections 26 serve as supply ducts for the manifold 8 and extend upwardly approximately to the heel portion of the pile at which point they are preferably provided with unions connected at their lower ends. The upper ends of the conduits.28 are suitably connected, as indicated at 29, preferably with a manifold 30. The supply pipe sections 26 and the manifold 3l are preferably interconnected by flexible cables or the like 3l, as by connecting the ends of the cables at their lower ends with ears 32 on stop collars 33 tted onto the upper ends of the pipe, sections 26 below the unions 21. 4 The upper ends of the cables 3| may be connected with ears 34 manifold 39.

The interior 35 of the manifold is preferably supplied with fluid pressure medium, such as. water indicated at 35, as by a exible pipe 31 connected at one end thereof with the inlet 33 to the manifold 30.

The manifold 30 is also preferably provided with a substantially centrally arranged opening `39 by which the manifold may pass over the loop 4 in such a manner to allow engagement Aof the loop -by the hook 5.

The manifold is also .preferably provided with upstanding ears 4I "preferably oppositely disposed relative to the opening 39 in the manifold. A cable or the like 4i is also preferably provided, the ends of which are engaged with the ears 40 in such a manner that the hook 5 may also engage the cable 4I in order to lower the pile and pile sinking apparatus simultaneously.

vsuitably provided on and projecting from the In order to support the upper portion of the feed pipes relative to the pile, .particularly on long piles, I provide a-clamp 42 formed-of a bar bent to t the sides of said pile and provided with loops 43 to receive the pipes. The clamp is preferably split, to aid in the application of the pile,- bolts 44 being used for fasteningthe clamp on the pile'.

The operation of an apparatus constructed as described is as follows:

when it 1s desired to sinkV the pile-the puel sinking apparatus. inclusive of the manifolds 3 and 33, together withv the supply'pipes and the pressure medium letting devices, forming parts thereof, is arranged about the Dile itsv shown in Figures 1 and 2. The hook I is then applied in theloop 4 and cable 4i and the pile andv pile sinking apparatus are raised and conveyed to the point at which'the pile is to be submerged and sunk into the earth. The point having been located, 'the pile is lowered until the lower end 21 towhich preferably flexible conduits 28 arev In Figure 5 a modified form of the invention is illustrated, wherein the lower end or toe portion of a pile 5I is provided with an internal downwardly directed and opening nozzle 52 having radially arranged passages 53 that are-inclined upwardly and open out of the pile through tubular jackets 54 provided with upwardly directed ends 55. Downwardly directed .letting pipes 55 have their lower ends mounted in the portions 55 of the jackets 54 and their upper ends connect with 'a manifold 51 provided with supply pipes 58 and upwardly directed jetting pipe sections 59, together with elbow jets 50 associated with the pipe sections 59 substantially of a character and for a purpose similar to that described in connection with the preferred form of invention.

The operation of the modified form of invention is substantially similar to that described in'connection with the preferred form of invention, with the exception that the jettlng nozzles 56 are removably mounted in the jetting jackets in the pile and are removed from such jackets upon withdrawal of the manifold', supply pipes and ietting pipe sections, from the pile after the pile has been sunk to a sufficient depth.

It is apparent therefore, that I have provided a convenient, relatively economical and highly eiiicient pile sinking apparatus that is admirably suited for carrying out` the objects for which it was designed. 1 Y

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described. a manifold loop removably mounted about the toe portion of a pile, means for supplying the manifold with fluid Vpressure medium, downwardly directed jetting nozzles in-the manifold l for causing the fluid pressure medium to form a or toeportion thereof, reaches the earth. Pressure medium, such as water is then applied to the pile sinking apparatus in such a manner that it ilowsfrom the pipe 31 through the manifold 3l and flexible conduits 2l into the supply pipes 25 and ultimately to the manifold 5, whereupon jets of water issue from the jets i5 downwardly around the we portion of the pile to form a hole in a portion of the earth in which the pile is to be sunk, and upwardly directed means mounted in the manifold, said means having noszl therein for causing the fluid pressure medium in.the manifold to force particles of the earth upwardly from said hole as the pile is being sunk in said hole.

2. In an apparatus of the character described. the combination of a pile having a toe portion and a vheel portion, a manifold loop removably mounted about the pile adjacent the toe portion thereof, means for supplying the manifold with fluid pressure medium, downwardly .directed nozzles mounted in the manifold, upwardly directed pipe sections .mounted in the manifold l the combination of a pile having a toe portion hole in the earth into which the pile sinks. 'I'he pressure medium. also issues' upwardly from the elbow jets in progressively ilner streams to lu-` bricate the pile vduring sinking thereof and to remove debris or particles of earth produced by the downwardly directed iets in making the hole in the earth. When the pile has been sunk to a sumcient depth, the hook is released from the loop. but maintained in engagement with the manifold cable 3|, whereupon the pile sinking apparatus may be disassoclated from the pile by drawing upwardly on the apparatus.

The pile sinking apparatus may then be applied to another pile and the operation, just and a heel portion, a manifold loop removably mounted about the pile adjacent the toe portion thereof, means for supplying the manifold with fluid pressure medium, downwardly directed nozzles mounted in the manifold, upwardly directed pipe sections mounted in the manifold having po ions of progressively less diameter, outlets fro the respective portions having upwardly ted nozzles and means for removing the manifo and supply means from the pile.

4. In com ation with a pile having a toe portion provided with a downwardly directed nomic and radially arranged channels, a manifold arranged adjacent the toe portion of the pile, nonies in the manifold removably engageable with the pile in said channels thereof, means for supplying the manifold with fluid pressure medium, upwardly directed means on the manifold having nozzles for directing a, portion of the fluid pressure medium upwardly exteriorly of the pile, and means for removing the manifold from the pile.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a pile having a toe portion and a heel portion, a manifold .loop removably mounted on the pile adjacent the toe portion and extending around said pile, means for supplying the manifold with fluid pressure medium, downwardly directed nozzles mounted on the manifold for causing the fluid pressure medium to form a hole in the portion of the earth in which the pile is to be sunk, upwardly directed means mounted on the manifold, means for restricting flow through the upwardly directed means, and `pwardly directed nozzles in the upwardly dir cted means causing a ushing ow of fluid press e medium in the manifold to move particles of earth upwardly from said hole as the pile is /being sunk in said hole.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a pile having a t portion and a heel portion, a manifold loop extending around the pile adjacent the toe portion thereof.

` said manifold being larger than said pile and slidable thereover, a manifold vadjacent the heel portion of the pile, pipes arranged along opposite sides of said pile, means adjacent the heel l portion-of the pile for removably securing said pipes to said pile, means for supplying the second named manifold with uid pressure, flexible conduits connecting said second named manifold with the upper ends of said pipes, the lower ends l0 of said pipes being connected with the rst named manifold for supporting same and supplying fluid pressure thereto, downwardly directed nozzles mounted on the first named manifold for causlng substantially all of the uid pressure in said 15 first named manifold to be directed downwardly around the toe portion of the pile to form a hole in the portion of the earth in which the pile is to be sunk, upwardly directed means mounted on the manifold, means for restricting iiow 20 through the upwardly directed means, and upwardly directed nozzles in the upwardly directed means causing a flushing now of fluid pressure y medium in the manifold to move particles of earth upwardly from said hole as the pile is being sunk EDWARD BIGNELL in said hole. 

